Systems and methods for multimedia content sharing

ABSTRACT

The invention provides, in one aspect, a multimedia content sharing system that includes (i) a shared content server which stores items of content (such as still, moving images and audio) and (ii) a plurality of nodes, each of which is in communications with the shared content server via cellular telephone and/or other data networks. The shared content server transmits items of content to a first set of the nodes “automatically,” e.g., without requests by users of those nodes for the items. At least one node in that first set displays the content of received items (e.g., on an LCD screen) and accepts user feedback in regard to those items. That feedback—which may be, for example, a command to copy an item into an “album”, to rotate an item on the display, to block another node from displaying the items, and/or to block a sender (or creator) of the item from sending further items of content from presenting—is transmitted back to the shared content server for distribution to other nodes, which alter their own respective displays of the items accordingly.

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/186,498, entitled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MULTIMEDIA CONTENT SHARING,filed Aug. 5, 2008 now abandoned, the teachings of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to digital media and more particularly, by way ofexample, to systems and methods for multimedia content sharing. Theinvention has application, by way of non-limiting example, in thesharing of images and other multimedia content between and among family,friends and other communities.

Digital cameras, both still and video, abound. One can hardly step intothe streets of any modern city without witnessing multiple cameras inuse. This has proven increasingly true since the advent ofultra-portable digital and video cameras, not to mention camera-equippedcell phones. The trend is likely to continue as manufacturersincorporate even better cameras into the ubiquitous cell phone.

The advances that have led to the upswing in picture-taking have notfound parallel in picture sharing. Most users resort to printing theirfavorite pictures and hand-delivering, or mailing, them to friends andfamily. Those on the information superhighway may use e-mail to sendphotos but, as many will attest, e-mail client incompatibilies, imagereader problems, firewall limitations, and lacking computer skills oftenfrustrate recipients attempts to enjoy the fruits of these missives.While online photo sharing services, such as MySpace®, FaceBook®, helpovercome some of these problems, they introduce new ones—not the leastof which is nessitating would-be recipients to log on to their computersto see the latest uploads. So goes the art of passive viewing.

Video sharing technologies are even more wanting. The lack of e-mailsupport for all but the smallest of video files requires users to “burn”them into CDs or DVDs and hand-deliver or mail them to proposectiverecipients. Still, incompatibilies in storage formats and disk-readercapabilities often frustrate these efforts, as well. Those withsufficient skills may turn to online video sharing services, such asYouTube®, BlipTV®, to avoid these problems only to find, like users oftheir still photo sharing service counterparts, that they haveintroduced new ones.

In view of the foregoing, an object of the invention is to provideimproved methods and apparatus for image sharing.

Related objects are to provide such methods and apparatus as can be usedwith still images, moving images (video), audio files, and other formsof multimedia content.

Further objects of the invention are to provide such methods andapparatus as reduce the potential that hardware, software and/or formatincompatibilies will frustrate content sharing.

Yet other objects of the invention are to provide such methods andapparatus as can be easily used by young and old, those that arecomputer-savvy and not, alike.

Still yet further objects of the invention are to provide such methodsand apparatus as bring together families, friends and other communities.

Yet still yet other objects of the invention are to provide such methodsand apparatus as permit the sharing not only of multimedia content but,also, user feedback surrounding that content.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing are among the objects attained by the invention whichprovides, in some aspects, a multimedia content sharing system includinga shared content server that stores items of content (e.g., stillimages, moving images and audio files) and a plurality of nodes, each incommunications with the shared content server via cellular telephoneand/or other data networks. Those other nodes can be, for example,mobile phones, personal digital assistants, network-enabled digitalpicture frames, personal computers, third-party servers, and so forth.

The shared content server can transmit items of content to a first setof nodes “automatically,” e.g., without requests by users of those nodesfor the items. At least one node in that first set (“first peer node”)displays the content of received items (e.g., on an LCD screen) andaccepts user feedback in regard to them. That feedback is transmittedback to the shared content server for distribution to one or more othernodes (e.g., one or more “second peer nodes”), e.g., in the first set,which alter their own respective displays of the items accordingly.

Related aspects of the invention provide a system as described above inwhich the shared content server transmits the aforementioned feedback toone of the second peer nodes without the item of content with respect towhich the feedback was accepted from the first peer node.

In still further related aspects, the invention provides a system asdescribed above in which the feedback accepted by the first peer nodewith respect to an item of content includes commands for one or more of(i) copying the item to an album (or other collection), (ii) rotatingthe item on the display, (iii) requesting that another node (e.g., oneor more of the second peer nodes) be blocked from presenting that itemof content, (iv) requesting that a user or node responsible transmittingthe item of content to the first peer node (via the shared contentserver) be blocked from transmitting further items of content to thatand/or other nodes.

Other related aspects of the invention provide systems as describedabove in which the first peer node and/or other nodes in the first setstore items of content received from the shared content server inrespective local stores.

In other aspects, the invention provides systems as described above inwhich the first peer node alters its own presentation of items ofcontent with respect to which the feedback was accepted, in addition totransmitting that feedback to the shared content server for distributionto other nodes. According to related aspects of the invention, the firstpeer node responds to selected interaction by a user of that node by (i)adding, deleting or otherwise changing information pertaining to an itempresented by that node, and/or (ii) messaging and/or forwarding items ofcontent to other nodes.

Further aspects of the invention provide systems as described above inwhich the shared content server transmits items of content to a secondset of the nodes in the same manner as those transmitted to the firstset of nodes, i.e., without requests by users of those nodes for theitems. As with the first set, at least one node in the second setdisplays the content of received items, accepts user feedback in regardto those items, and transmits that feedback to the shared content serverfor distribution to other nodes in the second set of nodes.

According to further aspects of the invention, third-party server nodesin a system of the type above can include photo-sharing web sites,digital media companies, and/or other content repositories. Such nodecan, according to these aspects of the invention, provide items ofcontent to the shared content server, for example, at the initiative ofthat third-party server, at the request of the shared-content server,and/or at a request of the user a node. Such third party server nodescan, instead or in addition, receive content from the shared contentserver, e.g., as in the case of a node used for a third-party photoprinting service.

Further aspects of the invention provide systems as described above inwhich the shared content server comprises one or more servers that arecoupled for communication via one or more networks. Each of thoseservers can have a central store with records and/or other structuresthat store items of content and related information, e.g., thumbnails,versions, and supplementary information such as time of acquisition ofan item of content and/or its transmittal to the one or more servers.

Still other aspects of the invention provide systems as described abovein which the one or more of items of content on the shared contentserver are provided by the first peer node. That node can acquire theitem, for example, using a camera that is coupled to the node, and cantransmit it to the shared content server for transmittal to the othernodes. In related aspects of the invention, the first peer node canacquire the item of content from a web site, networked computer, harddrive, memory stick, DVD, CD or other device or system, prior totransmitting it to the shared content server for transmittal to theother nodes.

Other related aspects of the invention provide systems as describedabove in which the shared content server combines items of content,e.g., received from the first peer node, with supplementary informationprovided with that item of content and/or in connection with itstransmission from that node. That supplementary information can include,for example, information contained in a header (e.g., of an e-mail)provided with the item of content and/or contained in metadata providedwith the item of content, all by way of example. The shared contentserver can transmit the supplementary information to other nodes, alongwith the item of content to which it relates.

In related aspects of the invention, the shared content server processesitems of content received, e.g., from the first peer node (or othernodes) and/or supplementary information for those items of content. Thisincludes generating, for example, “thumbnails” of the items of contentand versions of those items optimized for presentation on one or morethe nodes. That optimization can include, for example, cropping images,performing red-eye reduction and/or adjusting any of resolution, color,and contrast.

Further related aspects of the invention provide systems as describedabove in which processing by the shared content server includes taggingan item of content received from a node to facilitate categorization ofthat item into one or more sets (e.g., “albums”), e.g., defined by usersof the nodes. This can can include tagging an item of content based onany of a user-supplied designation (e.g., album name), supplementaryinformation provided with or for that item, and the content of the itemitself.

Yet still other aspects of the invention provide systems as describedabove in which the shared content server transmits items of content tothe first peer node and/or other nodes based on any of polling,scheduled transmission times, and/or sensed activity by a user of therespective node.

In other aspects, the invention provides systems as described above inwhich the shared content server transmits items of content to nodesbased on the groups (e.g., albums) into which those items are formed andpermissions by the nodes (or users of those nodes) in those groups. Inrelated aspects, the shared content server forms those groups based onfeedback received from the nodes in response to presentation of theitems of transmitted content. Alternatively, or in addition, groupingcan be based on user-defined rules, e.g., that are a function of tags orother information associated with the respective items of content.

In other aspects, the invention provides devices for multimedia contentsharing having one or more features of the components of the systemsdescribed above. Thus for example, in one aspect, the invention providesa device for multimedia content sharing including a processor, a displaythat is coupled to the processor, where the processor (i) drives thedisplay to present content of at least one item of content received froma shared content server, (ii) effects acceptance by the device offeedback with respect to that item of content from a user of the device,(iii) transmits that feedback to the shared content server fortransmission to at least one other device to which that item of contentwas transmitted by the shared content server for altering that otherdevice's presentation of that item of content.

In a related aspect, the invention provides a device as described abovecomprising a sensor that senses characteristics of any of (i) thedevice, (ii) an environment local to the device, and/or (ii) a user ofthe device. The sensor can be, by way of non-limiting example, a motionsensor, radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, bluetoothtransceiver, photo-detector, network presence/characteristic sensor,microphone, touch sensor, proximity sensor, and/or camera.

According to further related aspects of the invention, the processor ofa device as described above can respond to a sensed characteristic by(i) altering a state of the device, (ii) altering the presentation of anitem of content by the device, (iii) generating and/or altering a usernotification on the device, (iv) tagging an item of content, (v)generating a notification to the shared content server or to anotherdevice, (vi) sending an item of content to shared content server and/oranother device, (vii) altering a prioritization of tasks by the deviceand/or the shared content server, and/or (viii) scheduling transmissionof items of content.

In still other aspects, the invention provides methods of multimediacontent sharing paralleling the operation of the systems and/or theircomponents described above.

Other aspects of the invention provide a device, such as acomputer-driven touch sensitive display, that facilitates operatorselection of a function from among a plurality of functions. The devicecomprises a processor that is coupled to a display and that presents,utilizing a first format, (i) a limited subset of function-selectionicons selected from a set of such icons, each of which is associatedwith one or more of the aforesaid functions and/or a differing displayof options, (ii) one or more menu-index icons. The processor responds touser selection of one of the menu-index icons by repeating the display,albeit with a varied—but, again, limited subset of the functionselection icons. Conversely, the processor responds to user selection ofat least some function-selection icons for effecting a functionassociated therewith.

Related aspects of the invention provide a device as described above inwhich the processor responds to user selection of selectedfunction-selection icons by driving the display to present functionselection options in a format that differs from the first graphicalformat, described above.

Further related aspects of the invention provide a device as describedabove in which the set of function-selection icons is large comparedwith the available space on the display for presenting such icons;whereas the number of icons in each subset is small in comparisoni tothat space. Thus, for example, the set of function-selection icons canbe ten or larger and, more preferably, fifteen or larger and, still morepreferably, twenty or larger, while the subsets of function-selectionicons is five or smaller and, more preferably, three or smaller and,still more preferably, two or smaller.

Still other related aspects of the invention provide a device asdescribed above in which the processor's response to user selection ofmenu-index icons effects a carousel-like indexing through the set offunction selection icons—albeit in groupings of the subsets describedabove.

Still other aspects of the invention provide a device as described abovein which the processor drives the display to present one or morespecified screens.

In other aspects, the invention provides a user interface and methods offunction selection paralleling the operation of the devices describedabove.

Still further aspects of the invention are evident in the drawings andin the discussion and claims that follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the invention may be attained byreference to the drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A-1B depict a multimedia content sharing system according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 depicts storage of image and other information on a server of thetype shown in FIGS. 1A-1B;

FIG. 3 depicts further details regarding storage of records in a serverof the type shown in FIGS. 1A-1B in support of the sharing of imagesbetween and among nodes;

FIGS. 4-5 depict content presentation device according to the invention;

FIG. 6 depicts a user interface according to the invention of the typeutilized on the content presentation devices of FIGS. 4-5;

FIGS. 7-8 are a “wireframe” depicting screens of a user interfaceaccording to the invention of the type utilized on the contentpresentation devices of FIGS. 4-5;

FIG. 9 depicts a model for sharing multimedia content (here, images)according to one practice of the invention; and

FIGS. 10-30 are wireframes depicting a sequence of screens of a userinterface according to the invention of the type utilized on the contentpresentation devices of FIGS. 4-5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

Architecture

FIG. 1A depicts a multimedia content sharing system 10 according to onepractice of the invention. The system 10 includes a plurality of contentsharing nodes 12-22 coupled with one another and with servers 24 a-24 c(“shared content servers”) via a network 26. Content handled by thesystem includes still images, moving image sequences (such as video),and audio data. That content can also include text data, notifications,events, and other information.

Nodes 12-22 comprise one or more electronic devices or systems that (i)communicate with one another and/or with the servers 24 a-24 c and (ii)present, acquire and/or provide content. These include, by way ofnon-limiting example, mobile phones, personal digital assistants,network-enabled digital picture frames, personal computers, third-partyservers or server systems, all of the type commercially available in themarketplace as adapted in accord with the teachings hereof. One or moreof the nodes can also be content presentation devices (“CPDs”) of thetype described more fully elsewhere herein. It will be appreciated thatwhile individual examples of such devices are shown in the illustratedembodiment, other embodiments may incorporate less or more of suchdevices.

Illustrated content sharing servers 24 a-24 c aggregate, processesand/or serve multimedia content from and/or to one or more of the nodes12-22. The servers 24 a-24 c comprise personal computers, workstations,or other digital data processing devices of the type commerciallyavailable in the marketplace as adapted in accord with the teachingshereof. The servers 24 a-24 c, which may be coupled for communicationswith one another over the network 26, may be collocated, distributed orotherwise.

Network 26 provides communications coupling between the servers 24 a-24c and/or nodes 12-22. The network 26 can include one or more cellularnetworks, one or more Internets, metropolitan area networks (MANs), widearea networks (WANs), local area networks, personal area networks (PANs)and other networks, wired, wireless, terrestrially-based,satellite-based, or otherwise, known in the art suitable for transportof digital content, data and commands in accord with the teachingshereof.

FIG. 1A and the discussion above overview an example of the architecturewith which the invention is practiced, other configurations of whichfall within the scope thereof. Thus, for example, although a pluralityof nodes 12-22 are shown in the drawing, it will be appreciated that theinvention can be practice with a single node. Moreover, although thenodes 12-22 are shown coupled to three servers 24 a-24 c, it will beappreciated that the invention can be practiced with less or moreservers, as well as without any servers.

A further appreciation of the invention may be attained by reference tothe embodiment shown in FIG. 1B. The system 10′, shown there, comprisesmobile phone 12′, personal computer 18′, CPDs 20′, 22′, and third-partyserver 16′ that are coupled for communications with server 24 a′ vianetwork 26′. Primes are used in the reference numerals of FIG. 1B and inthe discussion that follows to illustrate, by way of non-limitingexample, types of devices that may be used for particular ones of thenodes 12-22, server 24 a and network 26 of FIG. 1A, as well as themethods of operation thereof and/or manners of interaction therebetween(again, in an illustrative, non-limiting sense). It will be appreciatedthat other devices may be used in practice of the invention, instead ofor in addition to those shown in FIG. 1B, and that the methods ofoperation and/or manners of interaction discussed below in connectionFIG. 1B may apply to other devices and/or configurations, as well.

The third-party server 16′ comprises a photo-sharing web site, a digitalmedia company, and/or other repository of content. It may provide imagesand other multimedia content to the server 24 a′ automatically (onaction of the server 16′), at the request of the server 24 a′, and/or atthe request or behest of a user of server 16′ and/or one or more of thenodes 12′, 18′, 20′, 22′. In some embodiments, server 16′ may receiveimages and other multimedia content from the shared content server,e.g., as in the case of a printing service invoked at the behest ofusers of nodes 12′, 18′, 20′, 22′ to generate hardcopy of images.

The network 26′ comprises one or more cellular and/or other networks32-36 providing communications coupling between server 24 a′ and,respectively, mobile phone 12′ and CPD 20′, as shown. The network 26′also comprises Internet backbone (not shown) providing communicationscoupling between server 24 a′ and the cellular networks 32, 34. Thenetwork 26′ (and its constituent components) are operated and utilizedin the conventional manner known in the art, as adapted in accord withthe teachings hereof.

Operation

Content Acquisition and Upload

With continued reference to FIG. 1B, in operation of the illustratedembodiment, images (and other multimedia content) are provided by thenodes 12′-22′ to server 24 a′. That content, which may be in the form ofimages or other multimedia content, may be acquired by the nodes invarious ways. Thus, by way of non-limiting example, (a) the mobile phone12′ can acquire images via a built-in camera and can transmit thoseimages to the server 24 a′ via network 26′ and/or, more particularly,cellular network 32; (b) the personal computer 18′ can acquire imagesvia a built-in or attached camera and/or via downloading from otherdevices/systems (e.g., web sites, networked computers, hard drives,memory sticks, DVD/CDs, and so forth) and can transmit those images tothe server 24 a′ via network 26′ (e.g., via IP network, cellular networkor otherwise); (c) the third-party server 16′ can transmit images toserver 24 a′ automatically and/or at the request of a user; and, (d)CPDs 20′, 22′ may transmit images contained in memory “sticks” (or otherstorage media) to the server 24 a′ via network 26′ and/or, moreparticularly, via cellular network 34 and/or IP network 36.

In the illustrated embodiment, interfaces are provided that facilitatethe transmission of images (and other content) from the nodes 12′-22′ tothe server 24 a′. Those interfaces include “widgets,” “wizards,”applications and other special-purpose programs that can be executed byusers of the nodes 12′-22′ to perform such transmission, e.g., onon-demand, scheduled or other bases. Such programs can be of the typeconventionally used in the art to transfer images from client devices toserver devices as adapted in accord with the teachings hereof. Theinterfaces also include general-purpose file transfer programs, such as(by way of non-limiting example) those suitable for ftp-, http-,e-mail-, or MMS-based transfers to server 24 a′. Graphical userinterfaces for use with the foreing are described in further detailbelow.

Content Processing

The server 24 a′ aggregates the received images with supplementaryinformation provided, e.g., by the mobile phone 12′ and/or in thetransmission process. This can include, by way of non-limiting example,“header” information contained in the e-mail or MMS transfer, such as,sender identification, time and date of transmission, subject line,message body, and so forth. This can also include metadata provided withthe image itself, e.g., device identification, time and date of capture,aperture settings, and so forth.

The server 24 a′ also processes the image and supplementary information,e.g., for transmission to the nodes 12′, 18′, 20′, 22′. This can includegenerating thumbnails and/or optimized versions of the image for displayor other presentation on the nodes. Those optimized versions canincorporate resolution reduction/enhancement, colorreduction/enhancement, contrast reduction/enhancement, cropping, red-eyereduction, and other adjustments known in the art of image display.

Processing can further include tagging the images, for example, inaccord with the supplementary information and/or in accord withdesignations made by a node user. In some embodiments, tagging can alsobe based on image content (as determined, for example, by facial orother recognition algorithms). In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1B,tagging allows and/or reflects categorization of the images into setsdefined by one or more of the node users.

Referring to FIG. 2, the server 24 a′ stores the aforementioned imageand other information in a central store 38, which is based on databasemanagement, content management or other data storage technology known inthe art, as adapted in accord with the teachings hereof. Contained inillustrated store 38, by way of non-limiting example, are records and/orother database structures storing or otherwise reflecting, for eachimage, related “image information”—i.e., the image 40 itself, itsthumbnail 42, image versions 44, 46, supplementary information, e.g.,regarding acquisition of the image and/or its transfer to the server 24a′ (such as, for example, sender identification (ID) 48, time/date oftransmission 50 from the creator of the image to the server 24 a′,subject line 52 of an e-mail or other transmission by which the imagewas sent to the server 24 a′, message body 54 of an e-mail or othertransmission by which the image was sent to the server 24 a′, device ID56 of the equipment that acquired the image, file name 58 containing theimage, time/date of image capture 60, aperture settings 62 via which theimage was captured, among other things) and tags 64. In otherembodiments, other information may be contained in the store 38, insteador in addition.

Referring back to FIG. 1B, the server 24 a′ can obtain images and otherimage information from the third-party server, e.g., as an added serviceto users of the devices 12′, 18′, 20′, 22′. This can include images andother image information, as well as other digital content.

Content Distribution and Presentation

The server 24 a′ transmits image information to the nodes. Preferably,this is done “automatically,” i.e., without need for request by theusers of those nodes for those images. For example, in a preferredembodiment, once CPDs 20′, 22′ have been activated (e.g., powered-on andcoupled to a cellular network), the server can download selected imagesto those devices 20′, 22′ e.g., via networks 34, 36, without furtheraction by the respective users of those devices. The “selected” imagescan be, for example, those contained in albums to which respective usersof the devices 20′, 22′ have permissions, as discussed below.Transmission of the images by server 24 a′ to the CPDs 20′, 22′ can beon polling, at scheduled transmission times (e.g., midnight every weekday), when sensors in the respective devices 20′, 22′ sense useractivity (or lack thereof), and so forth. In some embodiments,transmission to CPDs can also be on user request—e.g., where CPDs are soconfigured and enabled. The server 24 a′ can similarly transmitoptimized images and, optionally, other information to the mobile phone12′, computer 18′, e.g., upon user log-in or other request to the server24 a′ via a web browser, dedicated client or otherwise, on polling orother requests and/or at scheduled transmission times. The server 24 a′selects optimized images for transmission to each target node based onthe characteristics of that node.

The nodes 12′, 18′, 20′, 22′ present images individually and/or ingroups, e.g., based on characteristics such as tags, sender, subject,time/date of image acquisition. The drawing depicts presentation of“albums” of images 66, 68, 70, here, shown by way of non-limitingexample as image grids, on devices 12′, 18′, 20′, 22′, respectively.

In addition to presenting the image information, one or more of thenodes can acquire and/or otherwise provide images. Thus, as shown in thedrawing and discussed above, mobile phone 12′ can acquire an image thatit, then, transmits to the server 24 a′. This is likewise true ofportable computer 18′, e.g., via a built-in or attached camera. Theseand other nodes can, instead or in addition, transmit to the serverimages acquired by other means (e.g., images downloaded from otherdevices/systems, generated images, and so forth). While, in someembodiments, CPDs are equipped only for content presentation, in otherembodiments, they may also acquire (e.g., via a built-in or attachedcamera) or otherwise provide images (e.g., downloaded or otherwiseobtained from other devices/systems).

Albums & Communities of Users

As evident in the discussion above, images and other multimedia contentcan be transmitted to the nodes 12′-22′ based on groupings referred to,by way of non-limiting example, as “albums.” Membership of an image inan album may result in any of one or more ways, for example, (i) basedon ad hoc assignment of individual or groups of images (or othercontent) by users to a pre-existing or new album, and/or (ii) based onrules that are defined by users, by default, or otherwise, that effectassignment of images (or other content) as a function of tags and/orother image information. In regard to the fomer, by way of non-limitingexample, users of the nodes may utilize the user interface, e.g., of CPD20′ (and, likewise, those of the other nodes) to copy images or otheritems of content to albums and, thereby, to effect system-wideassignment of those images (or other content) to those albums. In regardto the latter, by way of non-limiting example, the server 24 a′ canassign newly acquired images to a default album, such as “ALL” or “NEWIMAGES”, etc.

However, in the illustrated embodiment, not all images that are membersof an album are necessarily presented on all nodes 12′-22′. Insteadimage presentation is a function of permissions and preferences.Particularly, server 24 a′ transmits to (or otherwise permits displayon) the nodes 12′-22′ only those images to which the node has permission(e.g., by way of hardware and/or user authentication). Such permissionsmay be granted, for example, by default, as a consequence of payment ofa service fee, activation of a user account, action of a node user,e.g., via a user interface of the type described below, action of anadministrator, e.g., using a web site or other interface to the server24 a, and so forth. The obverse of such actions may, conversely, effectrecision of such permissions.

In addition, in some embodiments, the server 24 a′ will not transmit to(or permit display on) a node, images from which that node has beenblocked or excluded (e.g., by act of the image creator/sender orotherwise)—even though those images may form part of an album to whichthe node has permission. Thus, for example, the user of a node thatacquires or otherwise provides images (or other content) for a givenalbum may block or exclude the user of another node from viewing thoseimages—yet, not exclude users of other nodes from the same album. Thismay be effected, for example, by action of a node user, e.g., via a userinterface of the type described below, action of an administrator, e.g.,using a web site or other interface to the server 24 a, and so forth.

Images received by the nodes 12′-22′ from server 24 a′ may be presentedto the respective users of those nodes, for example, depending displaypreferences set for those devices 12′-22′, e.g., by default, user actionor otherwise. Thus, for example, one node may be configured to presentall images transmitted to it by the server 24 a′, while another node maybe configured to present only newly received images, while yet anothernode may be configured to present only images that are members ofselected albums, and, yet, while still another may be configured toblock images from selected senders, nodes and/or selected albums. Stillfurther, some of these nodes may be configured to present receivedimages in groups or batches (e.g., album “grids” of the types shown, byway of non-limiting example in FIG. 3), while others may be configuredto present images individually, in random or other sequences. Suchdisplay preferences may be effected action of a node user, e.g., via auser interface of the type described below, action of an administrator,e.g., using a web site or other interface to the server 24 a, and soforth.

In the illustrated embodiment, membership of an image in an album isreflected by tags 64 (see FIG. 2) or other image information associatedwith the image, e.g., in store 38. Exclusions can be similarly reflected(i.e., by tags or other image information.) In other embodiments, albummembership may be reflected in other ways, e.g., by separate “album”tables, linked lists of album membership, or otherwise.

The foregoing provides a mechanism for sharing of images between andamong users of nodes 12′-22′ and, thereby, to form “communities.” Thisis illustrated, by way of example, in FIG. 3, which depicts records ofstore 38 for each of five images 70-78 which, together, form threealbums that are transmitted in varying combinations (e.g., in varyingsets that may overlap, partially or completely) to the nodes 12′-22′ forpresentation. This is graphically reflected by groupings of the recordsin the drawing, as well as by varying solid and dashed lines in thedrawing. In practice, album membership is effected by tags 64 associatedwith each respective image's record in the store 38 and/or by otherimage information.

Referring to the drawing, image 70 of the Eiffel Tower forms at leastpart of a first album to which all nodes have permission. Indeed, asshown in the drawing, the various nodes′ preferences are set such thatimage (or one of its versions 44, 46) is displayed on each node. Image72, of the Seattle Space Needle, and image 74, of the Statue of Liberty,form at least part of a second album to which only nodes 18′, 20′ havepermission, as reflected by dashed lines in the drawing. Although thedrawing shows both images on display in both nodes 18′, 20′, thepreferences on one or both may be set so as to delay and/or prevent suchdisplay for either or both images. Image 76, of a tree at sunset, andimage 78 of the Lincoln Memorial, form at least part of a third album towhich nodes 20′ and 22′ have permission. Again, although the drawingshows both images on display in both nodes 20′, 22′, the preferences onone or both may be set so as to delay and/or prevent such display foreither or both images.

User Interaction with Nodes

In addition to presenting content, nodes 12′, 18′, 20′, 22′ (and, insome embodiments, node 16′) accept user input for (i) manipulating orotherwise altering images and image information presentation, (ii)adding, deleting or otherwise changing image information, includingimage tags, (iii) replying to and/or otherwise messaging other users(e.g., an image sender) or other nodes (e.g., a third-party server), viathe server 24 a′, (iv) forwarding, via the server 24 a,′ images andimage information to other nodes, e.g., devices 12′, 18′, 20′, 22′ (forviewing by their respective users) or servers 16′ (including, forexample, a server used by a printing service), all by way ofnon-limiting example. A further appreciation of this may be attained, byway of non-limiting example, by reference to the discussion of thegraphical user interface, below and elsewhere herein.

The user input can be reflected in presentation of images andinformation at the node in which the input was made. By way ofscheduled, user-initiated or other synchronization operations, changeseffected by the user input (or other feedback with respect to displayedimages, or other content) may also be reflected in presentation of thosesame images (or other content) on the other nodes. For example, rotationof an image resulting from input by a user of node 22′ may besynchronized to the server 24 a′ and, thereby, may be reflected inpresentation of that image in corresponding albums 66, 68 on devices18′, 20′, respectively. This is true, likewise, of assignment of animage to an album (e.g., via a “copy to album” operation utilizing theuser interface), rotating or otherwise an image (e.g., via a “rotate”operation utilizing the user interface), tagging an image as a favorite(e.g., via a “tag as favorite” operation utilizing the user interface),changes to image information, including tags, made by the user of node22′ vis-a-vis images depicted on the other nodes 18′, 20′.

On the other hand, replies and/or other message sent by the user of node22′ to mobile phone 12′ and identified as private (either by that user,by default, or otherwise) are presented on device 12′ (and notnecessarily on the other nodes). Still other user input may be reflectedsolely on the device on which it is made.

The server 24 a′ can aggregate, process, store, transmit othermultimedia content—e.g., moving image sequences (such as video), textmessages, audio data, notifications, events, and other information—inthe same manner as that discussed above and shown in FIGS. 1B and 2 withrespect to still images. Likewise, suitably configured nodes 12′-22′ canpresent such other multimedia content, in addition to accepting userinput of the nature discussed above (e.g., vis-a-vis manipulatingcontent and information, adding/deleting/changing such information,replying/messaging content providers, forwarding such content andinformation, and so forth).

Environmental Awareness

Characteristics of the nodes 12′-22′, environments local to those nodes,and/or users thereof, can be determined by directcommunication/interaction with sensors on those nodes, by inference,e.g., based on time, date, and node location, and/or by a combinationthereof. The nodes 12′-22′ and/or server 24 a′ can use thesecharacteristics to (i) alter the state of the node(s), (ii) alter thepresentation of content, (iii) alter user notifications, (iv) tagcontent residing on the respective node and/or transmitted by it to theserver 24 a′, (v) generate notifications (or send content) to users ofother nodes, (vi) alter prioritization of tasks by the respective node,and/or (vii) schedule transmission of images (or other content) from theserver 24 a′ to the nodes 12′-22′ (or vice versa).

Thus, one or more of the nodes 12′-22′ may include (but are not limitedto) one or more of the following sensors:

-   -   motion sensor    -   radio frequency identification (RFID) reader    -   bluetooth transceiver    -   photo-detector    -   sensors to determine presence and/or characteristics of        network(s) to which node may be coupled    -   microphone (audio)    -   touch sensor    -   proximity sensor (e.g, infrared)    -   camera (still or video)

In some embodiments, such sensors are used to identify the presence orabsence of a (possibly specific) user, and/or provide date and/or timespecific feedback or content to the user, e.g., as discussed (by way ofnon-limiting example), below:

(i) In some embodiments, for example, a photo-detector present on anode, e.g., 20′, can be used by logic on that node to determine ambientlighting and, thereby, to effect screen dimming (or brightening).Likewise, a motion sensor on that node can be used to detect thepresence of a user at the node 20′ and, thereby, switch among displaymodes (e.g., image display mode, clock display mode, display-off mode).

(ii) In some embodiments, one or more of the nodes, again, for example,node 20′, includes one or more of the foregoing sensors that enable itto determine the identity of a user. That information can be used for,or in connection with, the tagging discussed above. Logic on the nodecan also use this information to alter the content and/or associatednotifications that the node presents to a specific user. For example, auser can be presented with images and/or albums specific to him and/orcan be notified and presented with newly arrived images (or otherarticles of content). Alternatively or in addition, the node cangenerate user-specific alerts (e.g., to take medications, walk the dog,see the doctor and so forth, based on information provided at set-up, bythe server, by preconfiguration, or otherwise) and/or can generatenotifications to the server 24 a′ and/or the other nodes indicating thatthe user is present.

(iii) In some embodiments, logic on one or more of the nodes, forexample, node 20′, determines node location, the local time of day,date, and so forth, via data available from servers on the network 26′,or otherwise. The node and/or server 24 a′ can use this information for,or in connection with, the tagging noted and discussed in (iv) above.Logic on the node and/or server 24 a′ can also use this information toalter (i) the state of the node, (ii) the presentation of images (orother content) thereon (e.g. only “new” or recent content), (iii)associated notifications that the node presents to users, such as,weather forecasts, birthday reminders, missing child (e.g., “Amber”)alerts, shopping or vendor-specific notifications (e.g., advertising),and so forth.

(iv) In some embodiments, one or more of the nodes, e.g., node 20′,includes a touch sensor, motion sensor and/or proximity sensor that isused, for example, to gauge user interest in a particular image (orother article of multimedia content) presented by that node and to tagthat image (or other article of content) accordingly. For example, ifthe node 20′ detects a user's touch during display of a particular image(or other article of content) and/or album, that image or album can betagged as a “favorite” or otherwise. This tag can be retained on thenode to alter further presentation of that image or album (e.g.,increasing frequency of presentation). The tag can also be transmittedto the server 24 a′ for recording in store 38 for statistical purposes,archival purposes, and/or to alter presentation of that image or albumon other nodes. In this latter regard, for example, user interest in animage detected in the foregoing manner can be conveyed to other nodes towhich that image is transmitted and presented as part of an album (orotherwise), thereby, alerting other users to the level of interest inthat image.

(v) In some embodiments, logic on a node, e.g., 20′, can detect userinteraction (e.g., via one or more of the foregoing sensors) and cangenerate notifications (or send content) to users of other nodes, suchas to reply to the sender of an article of content, forward content to auser at another node, place an order to purchase a hardcopy article ofcontent, or “block” the sender of an article of content from sending anyfurther content to a node.

(vi) In some embodiments, the server 24 a′ and/or respective nodes candetect node and/or network activity and can adjust prioritization oftasks accordingly, e.g., suspending the download of images during userinteraction with a node.

Content Presentation Devices (CPDs)

FIG. 4 is a high-level schematic of a content presentation device(“CPD”) 20′ according to one practice of the invention. CPD 22′ of theillustrated embodiment similarly configured. In other embodiments, oneor both of CPDs 20′, 22′ may be configured otherwise, e.g.,incorporating lesser, more and/or other components than shown anddescribed here. Referring to the drawing, the CPD 20′ of the illustratedembodiment includes a processor (or CPU) 90, memory (RAM 92 a, and aseparate FLASH 92 b for the local store (similar to 38)) 92, I/O ports94 a, 94 b, touch input sensor 96, additional sensors 98, visual output99, audio output 100, display (e.g., LCD) 102, cellular modem (RF) 104,antenna 106, and power supply (e.g., DC) 108, coupled as shown. Themake-up of these components, for illustrative purposes and by way ofnon-limiting example, is provided in the listing below:

PROCESSOR 90

-   -   for example, ARM or similar architecture processor, preferably,        with on-chip graphics accelerator, such as Freescale MX31. The        processor 90 executes software for operating the CPD 20′ and,        more particularly, the components thereof 90-108 in accord with        the discussion of node and CPD operations above. Such software        can be created, e.g., in C, C++, Java, Flash, or other        conventional programming languages known in the art, utilizing        conventional programming techniques, as adapted in view of the        teachings above.

INTERNAL MEMORY 92

-   -   for example, DDR RAM for use by processor 90 and FLASH for        on-board content storage

I/O PORTS

-   -   for example, SD memory expansion slot 94 b and USB 94 a

TOUCH SENSOR INPUT 96

-   -   for example, touch-screen, and/or touch-sensitive soft keys,        such as capacitive and/or resistive touch sensors

OTHER SENSORS 98

-   -   for example, Light (photodetector), infrared motion, infrared        proximity, position (e.g., tilt switch for landscape/portrait        orientation)

VISUAL OUTPUT 99

-   -   for example, one or more LEDs for providing user feedback (e.g.        power, network activity, etc.)

AUDIO OUT 100

-   -   for example, a single (monophonic) internal speaker

DISPLAY (LCD) 102

-   -   for example, TFT LCD

RF MODULE 104

-   -   for example, UMTS/GSM/CDMA

ANTENNA 106

-   -   for RF communication with cellular network

POWER SUPPLY 108

-   -   for example, an external AC-DC adapter, and/or Internal battery        (Li-Ion)

FIG. 5 is a schematic depicting further illustrative non-limitingdetails of an implementation of FIG. 4, including component selectionsof the CPD 20′ (and CPD 22′).

Of course, it will be appreciated that the schematics shown in FIG. 4and FIG. 5 merely represent some embodiments of a CPD according to apractice of the invention and that other embodiments may utilize varyingconfigurations and/or component selections.

User Interface

Like the other nodes, CPD 20′ (and 22′) can accept user input, e.g., formanipulating or otherwise altering images and image informationpresentation, addition, deletion or otherwise changing imageinformation, including image tags, and so forth (see the discussionabove under the heading “User Interaction”). To facilitate this, the CPD20′ employs a user interface (“UI”) that provides, inter alia, fornavigation of/interaction with images (and other multimedia content) andfor setting device CPD 20′ characteristics/modes.

That UI, which is implemented by CPU 90 operating in conjunction withdisplay 102 and touch sensor 96 (among other components of the device20′) in the conventional manner known as adapted in accord with theteachings hereof, is activated when the user initiates contact with thedevice 20′, e.g., via its touch screen 96′, though, in otherembodiments, the UI can be activated in other ways (e.g., upon sensingmotion in vicinity of the device, upon device start-up, periodicallybased on timing, or so forth). Such activation interrupts/pauses anyslideshow or content presentation on an active device 20′ (or wakes aninactive device 20′) and opens a menu option with which the user caninteract.

In some embodiments, CPU 90 (operating in conjunction with display 102,touch sensor 96, and other components of the device 20′) effects a UIthat displays a hierarchical menu of user-selectable graphical ortextual icons (hereinafter, “function-selection icons”), each of whichis associated with one or more functions. The menu is referred to as“hierarchical” because, while user selection (e.g., via touch sensor 96)of some of those icons results in invocation of the respectiveassociated function, user selection of others of those icons results indisplay (or activation) of plural additional icons, at least one ofwhich must be selected by the user to invoke a function.

In practice, CPU 90 invokes a function selected by the user via the menuby calling a software routine and/or activating a hardware component(92-108) to execute the requisite operations. This is done in theconventional manner known as adapted in accord with the teachingshereof. Invokable functions in the illustrated embodiment include,though other embodiments may provide lesser, greater and/or otherfunctions:

-   1. navigation/interaction    -   a. find/view subset of content        -   i. thumbnail directory of all content on-board device (inc.            access to archived/deleted content)            -   1. select image via thumbnail                -   a. display full-size image for N sec                -    i. access “organize” menu        -   ii. playlist (e.g. new, all, favorites, album (or shared            album))            -   1. create a playlist (subset of all images on device) by                selecting (common) attribute(s)                -   a. time period                -   b. user-tagged favorites                -   c. album (provision for >1 albums)                -    i. pre-defined albums                -    ii. shared albums    -   b. organize        -   i. keep            -   1. tag as favorite            -   2. copy to album . . . (i.e., tag or otherwise identify                as belonging to album . . . )        -   ii. delete            -   1. delete from device            -   2. and block sender            -   3. undelete (retrieve from server)    -   c. social action        -   i. reply            -   1. select from pre-defined replies        -   ii. forward/share            -   1. select from list of contacts—manage alphabetically                -   a. other contacts added via server            -   2. included in contact list is album(s) shared by group                of users    -   d. commerce/transaction        -   i. print            -   1. single print (purchase/order now)            -   2. save to album (add to queue to be printed when                full—12/24/36 photos)    -   e. image adjust        -   i. rotate L (and save as rotated)        -   ii. rotate R (and save as rotated)    -   f. go to settings-   2. settings    -   a. show image info (during slideshow)        -   i. on/off    -   b. show current date/time        -   i. on/off    -   c. show matte/frame around image        -   i. on/off            -   1. select from pre-defined styles                -   a. other styles added from server    -   d. slideshow settings        -   i. on/off            -   1. speed (slow/med/fast or up/down range)            -   2. slide portrait images across landscape oriented                device        -   ii. transition effects            -   1. on/off                -   a. select from pre-made transitions                -    i. slide/filmstrip (simplest default)                -    ii. special effect (fade, blend, wipe,                    etc)—randomized                -    1. other effects routines added from server                -    iii. “Ken Burns” (pan±zoom)                -    1. on/off    -   e. audio        -   i. on/off            -   1. play sound/voice (recorded) clips attached to images    -   f. hardware settings        -   i. brightness            -   1. up/down range        -   ii. wake/sleep            -   1. auto-sense (light, motion/proximity, time)            -   2. always on        -   iii. show frame address±other (network) settings        -   iv. new content notification            -   1. on/off                -   a. use LED/audio notification, user touches frame,                    view menu opens        -   v. “help”—to request assistance with using frame            -   1. ask user to call 800 number, or have them called by                service provider            -   2. give user a URL to use on their PC (direct link to                help ticket)            -   3. initiate an “audio chat” session with a help center

Referring to FIG. 6, in a preferred embodiment, the CPU 90 operating asgenerally described above effects a UI optimized for devices configuredin the manner of CPDs 20′, 22′ (although, that UI can be gainfullyemployed on other devices 12′-18′, as well) by displaying smallgroupings (or subsets) of user-selectable function-selection icons 120a, 120 b in a carousel-like arrangement. Displayed with those smallgroupings are one or two icons 122 a, 122 b used to index through thecarousel (“menu-index icons”). Those small groupings preferablyconstitute 2-5 function-selection icons and, still more preferably 2-3such icons and, still more preferably, only two such icons—as indicatedby icons 120 a, 120 b in the drawing. In contrast, the set ofuser-selectable function-selection icons from which the subsets areselected is large, e.g., compared to the available “real estate” on thedisplay 102 on which those icons are displayed. (Put another way, thedisplay 102 of the illustated embodiment is too small to practicallylist any sizeable fraction of the icons, e.g., while still presentingimages or other graphics to the node user).

In the illustrated embodiment, the set of user-selectablefunction-selection icons from which the subsets are selected is ten orlarger and, more particularly, 15 or larger and, still moreparticularly, twenty or larger, and yet still more particularly isapproximately equal in number to the invocable functions listed aboveand, yets, still more particularly, is equal to the number of“leaves”—as opposed to “branches”—in the hierarchical listing ofinvocable functions above. (In other embodiments, function-selectionicons may be provided corresponding to one or more of such branches, aswell). In contrast, the display 102 of the illustrated embodiment isapproximately 1″-10″ in width and 1″-10″ in height and, more preferably,1″-7″ in width and 1″-5″ in height and, still more preferably, about4″-7″ in width and about 4″-7″ in height. Moreover, the real estate onsuch display 102 in which the icons are displayed may range from 5%-100%of the display 102 depending on its size. For example, in a display 102that is 6″×4″ or 5″×7″ inches, that real estate may comprise 20% of thedisplay (thereby, leaving more of the display available for images),while in a display 102 that is 10″×8″, that real estate may comprise 10%of the display.

As above, user selection of selected function-selection icons results ininvocation of the respective associated function, while user selectionof other such function-selection icons results in a display which (i)presents options necessary to further specify function selection, andwhich may differ in format (for example, not including display of acarousel-like arrangement of user-selectable function-selection icons).Conversely, user selection of menu-index icons (which, themselves, maybe textual or graphical) results in presentation of the subsequent orpreceding small grouping of function-selection icons in the carousel.

In still other embodiments of the invention, the CPU 90 may implement amenu utilizing a combination of hierarchical and carousel-like graphicalformats/structures. In yet still other embodiments, the CPU 90 mayimplement still other menu structures.

Regardless, the CPU 90 can implement a UI that presents additionaltextual and/or graphical information on the display 102, e.g., for userviewing and/or selection. This can include captions 124 containing, forexample, image information (e.g., time/date of image acquisition, senderidentification, and so forth, as discussed above). It can also include,for example, user-selectable navigational icons 126 a, 126 b that permitthe user to “step through” a sequence of images (or other content) ofthe type transmitted by server 24 a′ to device 20′.

For convenience, a UI effected by CPU 90 on display 102 is referred toas a “screen.” In FIG. 6, that screen is denoted by reference 128 and isshown superimposed over an image—here, of a small girl—of the typetransmitted by server 24 a′ to the device 20′.

FIG. 7 is a “wireframe” depicting, inter alia, a preferred relationshipbetween screens 118 effected by CPU 90 in response to user selection ofmenu-index icons in an embodiment that employs a carousel-like menustructure. As evident in the drawing, repeated selection of one of theicons 122 a (or the other, 122 b) results in traversal the set of smallgroupings of function-selection icons that comprise the carousel. Ofcourse, it will be appreciated that, while eight screens 118 are shownin the drawing, other embodiment may employ a greater or lesser numberthereof.

FIG. 7 also depicts the effect of user selection of navigational icons126 a, 126 b. Particularly, screen 130 depicts display of a prior imagein a sequence of images (or other content) of the type transmitted byserver 24 a′ to device 20′. Conversely, screen 132 depicts display of asuccessive image in that sequence upon user-selection of navigationalicon 126 b. Although no icons are shown on screens 130, 132, those ofthe type shown in screen(s) 118 can be effected by CPU 90 on screens130, 132, as well (e.g., in response to a user touch).

FIG. 7 depicts, in addition, the effect of user selection of caption 124in a screen 118. Particularly, such selection effects indefinite display(until further action by the user) of any sequence of images (or othercontent) currently being displayed, preferably, without any icons of thetype present in screen(s) 118.

FIG. 8 is a wireframe depicting, inter alia, screens 140, 142 effectedby CPU 90 in response to user selection of certain function-selectionicons on screen 118—and, particularly, upon selection of one thatresults in a display, here, screen 140 (and, subsequently, screen 142),which (i) presents options necessary to further specify functionselection, and which, here, differs in format from screen 118 (e.g.,insofar as screen 140 does not include a carousel-like arrangement ofuser-selectable function-selection icons).

For sake of clarity, no actual images (e.g., of a small girl, orotherwise), are shown in the screens depicted in FIGS. 7-8.

FIGS. 10-30 are wireframes depicting a more complete user interfaceeffected by CPU 90 on display 102 of a CPD 20′ (and 22′) in a systemaccording to the invention. As will be evident to those skilled in theart, FIGS. 10-30 depict additional screens of the type shown in FIGS.7-8 (and, indeed, include replicas of the screens of FIGS. 7-8 forcompleteness) and described above.

Content Sharing Model

FIG. 9 depicts a model for sharing multimedia content (here, images)according to one practice of the invention. As above the model is merelyan example of one which can be used in practice of the invention and isprovided for illustrative, non-limiting purposes. The drawing is acombined (i) block diagram and (ii) flow chart, illustrating:

(i) organization of server store, including representation of a useraccount, organization of other nodes into a community a.k.a. ‘group’,node synch (between server and CPD a.k.a. ‘frame’), organization of an‘album’ of content, and including representation of an image andcorresponding image information (as also shown in FIG. 2), a.k.a.‘file’; and

(ii) input to server (e.g. from Sender1), content management (serverstore), distribution to nodes and/or groups of nodes (Frame1, Frame2,email3, mobile4), and examples of feedback (e.g. reply, block, undelete,forward, tag) to other nodes (e.g. Sender1 and Recipient1) via theserver.

Described above are systems, devices and methods meeting theaforementioned objects, among others. It will be appreciated that theembodiments described and shown herein are merely examples of theinvention and that other embodiments incorporating changes thereto mayfall within the scope thereof. Thus, by way of non-limiting example, thepermissions described above as attributable to nodes may, instead or inaddition, be attributable to users of those nodes.

In view thereof, what we claim is:
 1. A multimedia content sharingsystem, comprising A. a shared content server storing a plurality ofitems of content, where the stored items of content are any of still,moving images and audio, B. a plurality of nodes, each in communicationcoupling with the shared content server via one or more networks, C. theshared content server transmitting, via the one or more networks, i. afirst set of one or more of the plurality of items of content stored onthe server to each node in a first set of said nodes without a requestby any user of that node for such item, where the first set comprisesone or more of the plurality of nodes, and wherein each node in thefirst set of said nodes stores the first set of one or more of theplurality of items in a local store associated therewith, ii. a secondset of one or more of the plurality of items of content stored on theserver to each node in a second set of said nodes without a request byany user of that node for such item, where the second set comprises oneor more of the plurality of nodes and where the second set of items mayoverlap the first set of items, where the second set of nodes mayoverlap the first set of nodes, and wherein each node in the second setof said nodes stores the second set of one or more of the plurality ofitems in a local store associated therewith, D. at least one said node(“first peer node”) in at least one of the first and second sets ofnodes, (i) presenting any of visually and/or aurally the content of atleast one item of content received from the shared content server, (ii)accepting user feedback with respect to that item of content, the userfeedback reflecting user input regarding the item of content, and (iii)transmitting that user feedback to the shared content server, E. theshared content server transmitting the user feedback to at least onenode (“second peer node”) that is in the set of nodes to which the firstpeer node belongs without retransmission of the article of content withrespect to which the user feedback was accepted, which second peer nodealters a presentation on that node of that item of content as stored onthe local store associated therewith based on that user feedback.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the step of accepting user feedback withrespect to the item of content includes one or more of (i) copying theat least one item of content to an album, (ii) rotating the at least oneitem of content, (iii) requesting that a further node be blocked frompresenting the at least one item of content, (iv) requesting that asender of the at least one item of content be blocked from transmittingone or more items of content.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein thefirst peer node receives via a cellular modem at least one of the itemsfrom the shared content server.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein thefirst peer node alters a presentation on that node of the item ofcontent with respect to which the user feedback was accepted.
 5. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the first peer node responds to at leastselected interaction by a user of that node by adding, deleting orotherwise changing information pertaining to an item presented by thatnode.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first peer node responds toat least selected user interaction by messaging users of one or more ofthe other nodes.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first peer noderesponds to at least selected user interaction by forwarding an item ofcontent to one or more other nodes.
 8. The system of claim 1, whereinone or more of nodes comprise any of mobile phones, personal digitalassistants, network-enabled digital picture frames, personal computers,and third-party servers.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein one or moreof the third-party servers comprises any of a photo-sharing web site, adigital media company, and/or other repository of content.
 10. Thesystem of claim 9, wherein the third-party server provides one or moreitems of content to the shared content server any of (i) at aninitiative of that third-party server, (ii) at a request of the sharedcontent server, and (iii) at a request of a user a node.
 11. The systemof claim 8, wherein one or more of the third-party servers receivecontent from the shared content server.
 12. The system of claim 11,wherein one or more of the servers that receives content from the sharedcontent server comprises a printing service.
 13. The system of claim 1,wherein said shared content server comprises one or more servers thatare coupled for communication with one another over one or morenetworks.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein one or more of the serversthat make up the shared content server comprise a central store withrecords and/or other structures for storing the items of content andrelated information.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the relatedinformation comprises one or more of a thumbnail of an item of content,one or more versions of an item of content, supplementary informationregarding acquisition of an item of content and/or its transfer to theone or more servers.
 16. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or morenetworks include (i) a cellular network, and (ii) zero, or moreInternets, metropolitan area networks (MANs), wide area networks (WANs),local area networks, personal area networks (PANs).
 17. A multimediacontent sharing system, comprising A. a shared content server storing aplurality of items of content, where the stored items of content are anyof still images, moving images and audio, B. a plurality of nodes, eachin communication coupling with the shared content server via one or morenetworks, C. the shared content server transmitting, via the one or morenetworks, one or more of the plurality of items of content stored on theserver to each node in a first set of said nodes without a request byany user of that node for such item, wherein each node in the first setof said nodes stores the one or more of the plurality of items in alocal store associated therewith D. at least one said node (“first peernode”) in the first set of nodes, (i) presenting any of visually and/oraurally the content of at least one item of content received from theshared content server, (ii) accepting user feedback with respect to thatitem of content, the user feedback reflecting user input regarding theitem of content, and (iii) transmitting that user feedback to the sharedcontent server, E. the shared content server transmitting the userfeedback to at least one other node (“second peer node”) that is in thefirst set of nodes without retransmission of the article of content withrespect to which the user feedback was accepted, which second peer nodealters a presentation on that node of that item of content as stored onthe local store associated therewith based on that user feedback. 18.The system of claim 17, wherein the user feedback includes commands forone or more of (i) copying the at least one item of content to an album,(ii) rotating the at least one item of content, (iii) requesting that afurther node be blocked from presenting the at least one item ofcontent, (iv) requesting that a sender of the at least one item ofcontent be blocked from transmitting one or more items of content. 19.The system of claim 17, wherein the first peer node alters apresentation on that node of the item of content with respect to whichthe user feedback was accepted.
 20. The system of claim 17, wherein thefirst peer node receives via a cellular modem at least one of the itemsfrom the shared content server.
 21. The system of claim 17, wherein thefirst peer node alters a presentation on that node of the item ofcontent with respect to which the user feedback was accepted.
 22. Thesystem of claim 17, wherein the first peer node responds to at leastselected interaction by a user of that node by adding, deleting orotherwise changing information pertaining to an item presented by thatnode.
 23. The system of claim 17, wherein the first peer node respondsto at least selected user interaction by messaging users of one or moreof the other nodes.
 24. The system of claim 17, wherein the first peernode responds to at least selected user interaction by forwarding anitem of content to one or more other nodes.
 25. The system of claim 17,wherein one or more of nodes comprise any of mobile phones, personaldigital assistants, network-enabled digital picture frames, personalcomputers, and third-party servers.
 26. The system of claim 25, whereinone or more of the third-party servers comprises any of a photo-sharingweb site, a digital media company, and/or other repository of content.27. The system of claim 26, wherein the third-party server provides oneor more items of content to the shared content server any of (i) at aninitiative of that third-party server, (ii) at a request of the sharedcontent server, and (iii) at a request of a user a node.
 28. The systemof claim 25, wherein one or more of the third-party servers receivecontent from the shared content server.
 29. The system of claim 28,wherein one or more of the servers that receives content from the sharedcontent server comprises a printing service.
 30. The system of claim 17,wherein said shared content server comprises a set of one or moreservers that are coupled for communication with one another over one ormore networks and comprise a central store with records and/or otherstructures for storing the items of content and related information. 31.The system of claim 30, wherein the related information comprises one ormore of a thumbnail of an item of content, one or more versions of anitem of content, supplementary information regarding acquisition of anitem of content and/or its transfer to the one or more servers.
 32. Thesystem of claim 17, wherein the one or more networks include (i) acellular network, and (ii) zero, or more Internets, metropolitan areanetworks (MANs), wide area networks (WANs), local area networks,personal area networks (PANs).
 33. A method of multimedia contentsharing, comprising A. transmitting from a shared content server, via afirst set of one or more networks, a first set of one or more items ofcontent stored on the server to each node in a first set of one or morenodes without a request by any user of that node those one or moreitems, wherein each node in the first set of one or more nodes storesthe first set of one or more items in a local store associatedtherewith, B. transmitting from the shared content server, via a secondset of one or more networks, a second set of one or more items ofcontent stored on the server to each node in a second set of one or morenodes without a request by any user of that node those one or moreitems, where (i) the second set of items may overlap the first set ofitems, (ii) the second set of nodes may overlap the first set of nodes,and/or (iii) the second set of networks may overlap the first set ofnetworks, wherein each node in the second set of one or more nodesstores the second set of one or more items in a local store associatedtherewith, C. with at least one said node (“first peer node”) in atleast one of the first and second set of nodes, performing the steps of(i) presenting any of visually and/or aurally the content of at leastone item of content received from the shared content server, (ii)accepting user feedback with respect to that item of content, the userfeedback reflecting user input regarding the item of content, and (iii)transmitting that user feedback to the shared content server, D. withthe shared content server, transmitting the user feedback to at leastone node (“second peer node”) that is in the set of nodes to which thefirst peer node belongs without retransmission of the article of contentwith respect to which the user feedback was accepted, which second peernode alters a presentation on that node of that item of content asstored on the local store associated therewith based on that userfeedback.
 34. The system of claim 33, wherein the items of content areany of still images, moving images and audio.
 35. The system of claim33, wherein one or more of nodes comprise any of mobile phones, personaldigital assistants, network-enabled digital picture frames, personalcomputers, and third-party servers.
 36. The method of claim 33,comprising providing one or more items of content to the shared contentserver from one or more of the nodes.
 37. The method of claim 36,comprising (i) acquiring an item of content with a camera coupled to oneof the nodes and transmitting that item of content to the shared contentserver, and (ii) transmitting that item of content to one or more of theother nodes via any of steps (A) and (B).
 38. The method of claim 36,comprising (i) acquiring an item of multimedia content from any of a website, networked computer, hard drive, memory stick, DVD, CD or otherdevice or system, and (ii) transmitting that item of content to one ormore of the nodes via any of steps (A) and (B).
 39. The method of claim36, comprising utilizing the shared content server to combine a saiditem of content received from a said node with supplementary informationprovided with that item of content and/or in connection with thetransmission thereof from that node.
 40. The method of claim 39, whereinthe supplementary information comprises any of (i) header informationprovided with transmission of the item of content, and (ii) metadataprovided with the item of content.
 41. The method of claim 39, whereinany of steps (A) and (B) include transmitting a said item of content,along with at least some of the respective supplementary information, toa said node.
 42. The method of claim 39, comprising, with the sharedcontent server, processing any of (i) an item of content received from asaid node, (ii) supplementary information for that item of content. 43.The method of claim 42, wherein the processing step includes generatingany of (i) a thumbnail representing a said item of content received froma said node, and (b) one or more versions of such item of contentoptimized for presentation on one or more said nodes.
 44. The method ofclaim 43, wherein the processing step includes generating one or more ofthe optimized versions by any of adjusting resolution, adjusting color,adjusting contrast, cropping, and red-eye reduction.
 45. The method ofclaim 42, wherein the processing step includes tagging an item ofcontent received from a said node to facilitate categorization of suchitem into one or more sets defined by one or more users of the one ormore nodes.
 46. The method of claim 45, wherein the tagging stepincludes tagging an item of content in accord with any of (a) a userdesignation, (b) supplementary information for that item of content, and(c) content of that item.
 47. The method of claim 33, wherein any ofsteps (A) and (B) include transmitting a said item of content to a saidnode based on any of polling, scheduled transmission times, when one ormore sensors in the node sense selected conditions thereof.
 48. Themethod of claim 33, wherein any of steps (A) and (B) includetransmitting to a said node a said item of content optimized forpresentation on that node.
 49. The method of claim 33, wherein step(C)(iii) includes presenting items of content received from the sharedcontent server any of individually and/or in groups.
 50. A method ofmultimedia content sharing, comprising A. transmitting from a sharedcontent server, via a first set of one or more networks, a first set ofone or more items of content stored on the server to each node in afirst set of one or more nodes without a request by any user of thatnode those one or more items, wherein each node in the first set of oneor more nodes stores the first set of one or more items in a local storeassociated therewith, B. with at least one said node (“first peer node”)in the first set of nodes, performing the steps of (i) presenting any ofvisually and/or aurally the content of at least one item of contentreceived from the shared content server, (ii) accepting user feedbackwith respect to that item of content, the user feedback reflecting userinput regarding the item of content, and (iii) transmitting that userfeedback to the shared content server, C. with the shared contentserver, transmitting the user feedback to at least one node (“secondpeer node”) that is in the first set of nodes without retransmission ofthe article of content with respect to which the user feedback wasaccepted, which second peer node alters a presentation on that node ofthat item of content as stored on the local store associated therewithbased on that user feedback.
 51. The method of claim 50, wherein step(A) includes transmitting the first set of items to the first peer nodeautomatically upon activation of that node and its coupling to the oneor more networks.
 52. The method of claim 50, wherein step (A) includestransmitting the first set of items to the first peer node on one ormore bases, including, any of (i) polling, (ii) scheduled transmissiontimes, (iii) sensed activity of a user of the first peer node.
 53. Themethod of claim 50, wherein step (A) includes transmitting the first setof items to the first peer node optimized based on the characteristicsof that node.
 54. The method of claim 50, wherein step (B)(i) includespresenting one or more items in the first set of images any ofindividually and/or in groups.
 55. The method of claim 54, wherein step(B)(i) includes basing presentation of one or more items in the firstset of items based on characteristics including any of tags, itemsender, item subject, and/or time/date of image acquisition.
 56. Themethod of claim 50, comprising the step of D. acquiring one or moreitems of content via one or more of the nodes and transmitting that itemto the shared content server for transmission to one or more of theother nodes.
 57. The method of claim 56, wherein step (D) includesacquiring one or more items of content via the first peer node andtransmitting that item of content to the shared content server fortransmission to one or more nodes in the first set of nodes.
 58. Themethod of claim 57, wherein step (D) includes acquiring an item ofcontent using a camera that is any of built-in or attached to the firstpeer node.
 59. The method of claim 57, wherein step (D) includesacquiring an item of content via download from one or more other devicesand/or systems.
 60. A method of multimedia content sharing, comprisingA. grouping one or more items of content stored on a shared contentserver into one or more groups, B. transmitting to one or more nodesfrom the shared content server, via a first set of one or more networks,one or more items of content from a first such group of items stored onthe server to each of one or more nodes in a first set of nodes havingpermissions in that group without a request by any user of that node forthose one or more items, wherein each node in the first set of nodesstores the one or more items in a local store associated therewith, C.with at least said node (“first peer node”) in the first set of nodes,performing the steps of (i) presenting any of visually and/or aurallythe content of at least one item of content from the first group ofitems received from the shared content server, (ii) accepting userfeedback with respect to that item of content, the user feedbackreflecting user input regarding the item of content, and (iii)transmitting that user feedback to the shared content server, D. withthe shared content server, transmitting the user feedback to at leastone node (“second peer node”) that is in the first set of nodes withoutretransmission of the article of content with respect to which the userfeedback was accepted, which second peer node alters a presentation onthat node of that item of content as stored on the local storeassociated therewith based on that user feedback.
 61. The method ofclaim 60, wherein step (A) includes grouping a plurality of items ofcontent on the shared content server into a plurality of groups.
 62. Themethod of claim 60, wherein step (A) includes grouping the one or moreitems of content into groups based on the user feedback receivedaccepted in step (C).
 63. The method of claim 60, wherein step (A)includes grouping the one or more items of content into groups based onbased on user-defined rules.
 64. The method of claim 63, wherein therules are a function of tags and/or other information associated withthe respective items of content.
 65. The method of claim 60, whereinstep (A) includes selectively transmitting the one or more items ofcontent from the first group of items to one or more nodes in the firstset of nodes.
 66. The method of claim 65, wherein step (A) includesselectively transmitting the one or more items of content from the firstgroup of items to one or more nodes in the first set of nodes based onpreferences defined for the respective nodes.
 67. The method of claim66, wherein those preferences include blocking transmission of items ofcontent from any of designated senders, nodes and/or selected groups.68. The method of claim 60, comprising setting permissions for nodes ina group as a function of any of payment of a service fee, activation ofa user account, action of a node user, and action of an administrator.69. The method of claim 60, wherein the items of content are any ofstill images, moving images and audio.
 70. The method of claim 60,wherein one or more of nodes comprise any of mobile phones, personaldigital assistants, network-enabled digital picture frames, personalcomputers, and third-party servers.
 71. The method of claim 60, whereinstep (C)(ii) includes accepting as user feedback a command toidentifying at least one item of content as belonging to one or more ofthe groups.
 72. The method of claim 60, including the step of blockingfrom transmission to one or more nodes in the first set items of contentfrom which those nodes have been excluded.
 73. The method of claim 62,wherein the blocking step includes blocking from transmission to one ormore nodes in the first set of node one or more items of content fromwhich those nodes have been excluded by a user that provide such itemsof content.
 74. The method of claim 60, comprising the step of E.providing one or more items of content to the shared content server fromone or more of the nodes.
 75. The method of claim 74, wherein step (E)includes (i) acquiring an item of multimedia content from any of acamera, web site, networked computer, hard drive memory stick, DVD, CDor other device or system coupled to one of the nodes and transmittingthat item of content to the shared content server, and (ii) transmittingthat item of content to one or more of the nodes via step (B).
 76. Themethod of claim 74, comprising utilizing the shared content server tocombine a said item of content received from a said node withsupplementary information provided with that item of content and/or inconnection with the transmission thereof from that node.
 77. The methodof claim 76, comprising determining a grouping an item of contentreceived from a said node in accord with any of (a) a user designation,(b) supplementary information for that item of content, and (c) contentof that item.
 78. The method of claim 77, wherein the supplementaryinformation comprises any of (i) header information provided withtransmission of the item of content, and (ii) metadata provided with theitem of content.
 79. The method of claim 77, wherein step (B) includetransmitting a said item of content, along with at least some of therespective supplementary information, to a said node.
 80. The method ofclaim 77, comprising, with the shared content server, processing any of(i) an item of content received from a said node, (ii) supplementaryinformation for that item of content.
 81. The method of claim 80,wherein the processing step includes generating any of (i) a thumbnailrepresenting a said item of content received from a said node, and (b)one or more versions of such item of content optimized for presentationon one or more said nodes.
 82. The method of claim 81, wherein theprocessing step includes generating one or more of the optimizedversions by any of adjusting resolution, adjusting color, adjustingcontrast, cropping, and red-eye reduction.
 83. The method of claim 80,wherein the processing step includes tagging an item of content receivedfrom a said node to facilitate categorization of such item into one ormore sets defined by one or more users of the one or more nodes.
 84. Themethod of claim 60, wherein any of steps (B) and E(ii) includetransmitting to a said node a said item of content optimized forpresentation on that node.